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fredsleds

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Everything posted by fredsleds

  1. I found an RV sales/storage facility in Saguenay A. S. Levesque 450-691-5860 ext 3301 Serge LaBelle (large company with many businesses/locations throughout Quebec) that will store a 2 place trailer in their secure RV facility for $375 for SIX months, about 60 CAD/month. You could possible leave your sled/trailers in November and just pick them up when you come up to ride. Than take them home after last ride. Beats hauling if you come 2-3 times/season. You could even fly to Bagotville/QC and rent a SUV to haul them to wherever you're staying.
  2. We stayed there one night. Decent rooms w/ small kitchens. Weird bar policy, had to pay for each drink right away, no running a tab. Food was just OK for dinner. Spa was real nice though ($20 CAD extra per day to use it though). Ate lunch there a few days later, 2 choices burger or hot dog. They also don't have a cooked breakfast unless there's a large group. If not too many people just a "continental breakfast". As far as I can tell the La Sagueneenee looks good to me for what our group wants.
  3. Great idea, thanks. I just stayed there last week.
  4. We figured out the crossing fairly quickly. It was warm the week we were there. We did cross in Alma also and that was definitely better. I think the ice crossing would be easiest when conditions permit. The FCMQ show grooming right up to the river from both directions. We never actually checked it out after Bill told us it was dicey...
  5. Does anyone know where I can securely store my trailer with sleds for 2 to 3 weeks near LSJ or QC. It's 1000+ miles each way from Pittsburgh and would like to leave the trailer/sleds somewhere, fly home for work and fly back to ride again in 2 weeks (next season). I emailed a couple of storage facilities and U-Haul places but no one has replied. Main thing is safe and secure place. Thought about 4 points Sheraton, but, not sure you could leave a trailer there for that length of time if you weren't staying there. I'd appreciate any thoughts/suggestions. Thanks, Fred
  6. Thanks all, the La Sagueneenee looks perfect. Will give it a try next year.
  7. Nice rides out of the Delta are to KM31 in Mt Valin, Centre Plein air in Mt Vilain (notice different areas with similiar sounding names) the food here is great and the owner Annik is a real gem, also easy ride south to the Ravage for a super lunch, West to Chambord is good too. We did 900 miles in 5 days with no issues except getting in/out of the Delta when heading north.
  8. We stayed last week at the Delta. Nice hotel and staff. Food a bit overpriced especially dinner. We unhooked and drove most nights. Main things that I didn't like were getting north of the river through Shipshaw was painful on the back. The "ice bridge" off of 393 seemed to be unsafe (according to Bill..lot's of slush) so each morning and evening you took a beating heading north. Going south to the ravage was really a good day. Also, can't believe they don't have a hot tub in a place this large. Can anyone recommend a hotel north of the river with a restaurant, hot tub, sauna etc? Not knocking the Delta, but, it would have been nice to have a drink after riding for less than 10-12 CAD in the Delta bar and to soak the aches away in a nice hot tub. We strayed at Manoir du Lac William last year and was hoping to find something similar in LSJ area. Would appreciate any help. Chalet et Spa in Chambord had nice facilities but food was marginal at best. Thanks, Fred
  9. Was at the Delta all last week. Met Bill on Saturday 3/3 and he was heading home after 2 months. Decent conditions, but, getting in/out of town and for gas was a major pain. The ice trail over the river was not safe to cross, So had to take the bridges in Shipshaw, man they were rough. The Bras Louie trail off 93 near the ski slope was the best of the week.
  10. I'd stay and start your trip in Riviere du Loop. Hotel Universal is sledder central, mUSt make reservations. I'd stick to the south shore of the St Lawrence and you must see the Chic Choc Mountains. Stay second day in Matane, lots of hotel there also. Are you saddle bagging or wanting to stay in one place? Fred
  11. The app is great to download onto your phone. The best $1.99 you'll spend. Each day you can plan your ride by when/where they've groomed. Also, when you turn your locations on it shows you where you are and you can set in waypoints, etc. Really don't need a separate GPS or even a map. Works even when you don't have a cell connection. Does burn up your phone battery though, bring a charger and charge it when you stop.
  12. FMCQ website reports great conditions and all trails recently groomed. Check out this site, where they're grooming usually means good conditions.
  13. I stayed an Manoir du Lac William. I can't think of a better place with your wife. GREAT hotel, nice trails, amazing outdoor spa. Most plans include dinner and breakfast (you don't have to, but, I'd recommend it). Or can drive like 20 minutes to Thetford Mines, many choices for sinner there by car. Only a few by sled. Also, they have enclosed, heated, locked storage (as does the Drakkar or at least it used to). From VT it would be way closer to than the Drakkar. Drakkar used to be the Safari, unless they did some amazing upgrades, I know that at least my wife would hate it. Main issue for that time of year South of QC is snow coverage. We did the Gaspe first week in March last year and the Chauderie region around Manoir du Lac William was done by than, this year who know?
  14. Another great way (cheaper and easier in my opinion since everyone has a cellphone) is for $1.99 load the FCMQ map onto your phone. It is very accurate and it gives you grooming information. Great to have in the AM when planning your ride. Also can pick way points etc. Last year I mounted phone to sled using RA< mounts. Battery wouldn't charge while riding said "to cold to charge", but, charge lasted 4 hours, just took power adapter in when we stopped for lunch and plugged it in. My Galaxy 8 with rapid charging charges full in like 45 minutes. Also, you can than Bluetooth music to your helmet speakers if you have them (U-Clear work really great). Can also answer calls, but, I put it in airplane mode. Don't want to talk while riding. Fred
  15. The Sidewinder and Apex are will know for this. Another option if you don't have a garage/hairdryer is to put one of those "hot packs" on the relays (very front on the Sidewinder). Best thing is, start it and go. If you start it, warm up, then shut it off, moisture will condense in the relay, freeze and your hosed. Poor design. I know you can get the red relays for the Apex. Does anyone know if you can get sealed fuel pump relays for the Sidewinder? Thanks, Fred
  16. You'll like LSJ, great riding. We went 3 years ago and one morning it was-45 degrees F! Amazingly all the sleds started, it was a short day with lots of stops.
  17. Heh mcstar, No worries. I guess each of our groups wasn't communicating with all the others. Maybe we'll meet up one day. Next year we're going to do the trip unguided with just people that we know. Fred
  18. Our group did not pass them on the right, that's crazy. If a slow group intentionally won't let you pass, IMHO it just creates anger and frustration.
  19. Thanks Shore1066, The ones doing hole shots were people that we doing the hole shots were people we never meet, we signed up for the tour and they put them with us. We respect the work of the groomers and the trails signs, never been off a trail on purpose (have been on an ATV trail or two by accident though). Have a good rest of the winter, we're hoping Stella brings us another opportunity to ride in PA. Fred
  20. To mcstar: As always there are 2 sides to s story. This was out first day, after we saw the 2 riders (who we just met) doing the hole shots, we explained that this was not proper trail etiquette. To your other statement. We followed you for 10 MILES. You had FOUR chances at stop signs to let us pass you. Everyone is entitled to ride to their abilities. The "wannabe racers" are aged 46 to 61 each with 20+ years of experience. This is like the guy driving 55 in the left lane of 70 MPH highway, eventually people pass on the right because it seems that person thinks they "own the road". We ride faster than you, you all had mirrors, had FOUR chances to wave us on before we passed on a straight away. Then when the last 2 didn't get past you and we were in the parking lot of the Relais, you STILL wouldn't let them by (your FIFTH chance). At this point you had to know that we wanted to get by you. So finally after the SIXTH attempt to pass you let us get by. In our 6 days in the Gaspe your group of 4 was the ONLY group who intentionally didn't let us pass them. At least 10 other groups just waved us on. Why didn't you stop at a stop sign and wave us on? Your entitled to ride at whatever speed you want and so are we. Did it hurt your ego to let us go by? Finally, we got passed by young guys on fast sleds at least 10 times. The minute we saw them "on our asses" we waved them on. No big deal. Your stubbornness created the entire situation. You had SIX chances over 15 minutes to let us go by, I just can't understand why you did what you did. TQ5 is not your personal trail where you can dictate the speed to everyone else. As far as it being a family sport, of course it is. Every 2 up going 30 MPH lets the faster people go by. The 3 trailing sleds in your group clearly wanted us gone, it was your leader who saw us and decided that we should have to ride at YOUR speed, not what we wanted to ride. We were well within our capabilities, you were going way slower then the average and I bet you had multiple similar encounters with others unless you interaction with us made you change your behavior. Anyway, all can learn from this, if someone wants to pass, I say wave them on at the next stop sign and save everyone some aggravation. And to Shore1066, this was my 12th trip to Quebec since 1999, we HATE Tug Hill and would never ride their because of the bad behavior/alcohol consumption that goes on there. mcstar's group was the ones who need to be educated. Fred
  21. Our Gapse Trip with Gary Pruit and Bon Voyage Sowmobile Tours 3/4 Arrive Hotel Universal RDL 3/5 RDL to Matane...trails bumpy, lots of unexpected 3 foot snow drifts but all an all not bad 3/6 Matane to Mont St Pierre, blue skies, best day on a sled in my 21 years of riding, amazing views 3/7 Mont St Pierre to Gaspe with detour to Perce Rock, again amazing day 3/8 Gaspe to Maria 216 miles in freezing rain/drizzle. Thank God for Klim gear to keep us dry 3/9 Maria to Amqui, despite going to bed in Maria with the trails slush/mashed potatoes woke up to groomed perfection, these groomers are amazing. 3/10 Amqui back to RDL cold and windy but very sunny and nice 1,121 miles in 6 days. Bob Voyage crew was great, nice pace of riding, every morning you packed your small bag, left it in room, gave you key to support truch driver who loaded you gear after you leave/ When you arrive, he gives you your room key and ytour bag is in the room waiting for you. No waiting to check in/out. Very professional and highly recommended operation Fred
  22. Yes they have gas (may want to call first, because your going to be close to out when you get there from wherever your coming ) Place is amazing, beautiful, friendly owner, good English, super food (expensive) Trail off 83 is well marked and was perfect when I was there last year.
  23. If they ran it down until it died of exhaustion, there may be blood from the lungs. This is like when humans get congestive heart failure and cough up blood. Don't know why there would he hair unless it was hit by a sled. If they did chase it down, maybe they'll be stupid enough to put GoPro video on the internet and they will be caught. Apt punishment would be to chase them on a trail till they dropped over.
  24. I did some research and there is a company called UCLEAR. They have a great web site. They have Bluetooth amplifiers that can double as communicators. The really nice thing is for $49 extra, you can get a remote unit that wraps around you handle bar. The buttons on the remote are large and look like they will work with gloves on. When you stop, you just hit the button on the bar and the music shuts off. It look really sweet and got great reviews online. I'm going to buy one for our upcoming Gaspe trip and will let you all know what I think of it.
  25. Callous peeling, WTF's...just beautiful!! Couldn't have explained it better..that's perfect! You guys have a blast. We're up to the Gaspe next week. Hope to find some of your stickers around there too. Fred
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